Electrothermic fluidized bed apparatus



Oct. 31, 1961 H. S. JOHNSON ELECTROTHERMIC FLUIDIZED BED APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1958 consist of (l) gas-tight electrical 3,006,838 ELECTROTHERMIC FLUIDIZED BED APPARATUS Herbert S. Johnson, Shawinigan South, Quebec, Canada,

assignors to Shawinigan Chemicals Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,769

Z Claims. (Cl. @Q4-312) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for obtaining high temperatures in a bed of fluidized electrically conductive particles heated by the passage of electric current through the liuidized bed. Apparatus such as this is described as early as 1932 by F. Winkler in U.S.P. l,857,7 99. Winklers apparatus consisted of a iluid bed reaction chamber with at alloy plates as electrodes located in opposite walls of the reactor so that electric current flowing between the electrodes passed through the iluidized bed of carbon particles. The apparatus was designed for production of water gas from steam and granular coke made from lignite.

Serious difficulties have been encountered in the operation of iluidized beds heated electrically as described by Winkler and others, especially when attempts are made to raise the operating temperatures above about 900 C. Thus, although apparatus of the type described by Winkler has been known for over twenty-five years, and suggestions have been made for utilization of apparatus of this type as recently as in 1949 by P. W. Garbo for the reduction of zinc compounds to metallic zinc vapor (U.S.P. 2,475,607) and in 1957 by E. F. Pevere et al. for spark discharge activated chemical reactions (U.S.P. 2,799,640), no eminently satisfactory apparatus has been developed or described and no commercial apparatus is known to exist or to have been operated on a commercial scale.

The principal difficulty which has beset operation of electrically heated uidized beds at elevated temperatures has been electrical failure which has ensued as the result of apparent breakdown, within or in the vicinity of the fluidized bed, of the electrical insulating properties of structural elements separating electrodes at different potentials. Such breakdowns have caused short circuits which have been known to melt ceramic structural elements retaining the electrodes and fluidized bed.

It is the object of this invention to provide improvements in apparatus for obtaining high temperatures in a fluidized bed of electrically conductive particles heated by the passage of electricity therethrough, whereby the apparatus can be operated continuously for prolonged periods at high temperatures, including temperatures above 1000 C., without failure of the electrical insulation isolating the electrodes carrying current 4to the fluidized bed.

This and other desirable objects are achieved by the present invention which comprises, in an apparatus for obtaining high temperatures in a fluidized bed of electrically conductive particles heated by the passage of electricity therethrough, comprising: (a) a reaction chamber enclosed by a heat insulating structure, to retain a bed of hot fluidized electrically conductive particles, (b) gas inlet means to admit and distribute uidizing gas beneath the uidized bed, (c) gas outlet means to conduct gases from above the uidized bed to points outside the reaction chamber, (d) at least two electrodes at dilerent electrode potentials contacting the bed of iluidized particles, conducting current to the bed, and (e) means connecting the electrodes to a source of power, the improvements which insulation around each electrode which enters the reaction chamber at a point above the level of the fluidized bed, with not more than one electrode function entering the reaction chamber below the level of the fluidized bed, said insulation surround- 3,0%,33 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 ing its associated electrode at the point of entry to the heat-insulating structure and forming the only connection, other than the iluidized bed, between the electrode and the heat insulating structure, and (2) radiant-heat shielding between the said gas-tight electrical insulation and the top of the uidized bed, to prevent radiant heat from the iluidized bed from impinging directly on said insulation. The expression electrode function is used herein to designate a single electrode or a ygroup of directly connected electrodes at a single potential. A group of electrodes is used as an electrode function in lieu of a single electrode when it is desired to have a lower current density on the surface of the electrode function than can be obtained with a single electrode, and for other significant reasons.

In preferred forms of the invention, the parts of the electrodes which are in contact with the gas-tight electrical insulation are cooled by contact with suitable circulating cooling uid.

The apparati to which this invention relates have a great deal in common with conventional electric furnaces. The apparati suggested by Winkler and by Garbo utilized electrodes all of which penetrated the walls of the structure retaining iiuidized beds and entered the beds below the top surface thereof. lt has been found that such an arrangement of electrodes is impracticable at high temperatures, eg. above about 900 C., because continuous electrically conductive paths soon develop on the walls of the structures and form short circuits between the points where the electrodes penetrate the Walls. These conductive paths have been observed to form apparently by a highly localized temporary melting of the surface of normally non-conductive walls 'and consequent incorporation of conductive solids into the matrix, forming a conductive surface.

Accordingly it has been found necessary, for practicable operation of uidized beds at high temperatures, to locate the electrodes so that not more than one electrode function penetrates the walls of the structure and enters the uidized bed below the top surface thereof. Thus, with two electrodes for a single phase electrically heated fluidized bed, both electrodes can be located to enter the fluidized bed from the top, or they can be located so that one electrode enters the uidized bed through the top and the other enters the bed below the level of the top. With this latter arrangement, the lower electrode can conveniently be a conductive part of the structure retaining the uidized bed and contacting it effectively during operation.

It hasfurther been found necessary, for practicable operation of iiuidized beds at high temperatures, that the electrical insulation, separating those electrodes which enter the uidized bedthrough the top from the structure which forms the chamber enclosing the iluidized bed, be shielded from direct radiation from the uidized bed by radiant-heat shielding. It has been ascertained that all well known electrically insulating materials become electrically conductive to an appreciable extent at temperatures frequently encountered in electrically heated fluidized beds. Furthermore, the structure enclosing the fluidized bed must be gas-tight to retain the uidizing gases in their proper flow channels, hence the electrical insulation separating the electrodes from the structure must also be gas-tight. Thus gas-tight electrical insulation around each electrode which enters a iluidized bed through the top thereof must form the only connection, other than the fluidized bed, between the electrode and the structure enclosing the fluidized bed, and the insulation must be shielded from direct radiation of heat radiating from the iluidized bed.

The invention is illustrated in diagrammatic form by the accompanying drawings in wiich FIGURE l shows an electrically heated uidized bed in vertical cross section, FIGURES 2 and 3 are horizontal cross sections of Vconnected by leads'v 16 to a source of URES l and 4 including constituting the invention.

In FIGURE 1, a laboratory scale iluid bed reactor apparatus. is shown. It comprises Va hightemperature resistant glass Vcylinder containing a bed of lluidzed electrically conductive solids 11; Gas to uidize the solids is admitted through inlet 12 and distributed beneath the bed by distributor 13. A gas outlet 14 conducts gases` from Ythe apparatus. Two electrodes 15, power (not shown), conduct current to .the lluidized bed 1'1.V The electrodes areY separated andy insulated from each other and from the main structure of the reactor by the electrically insulating rubberfstopp'er 17. The ru-bber stopper 17 is shielded from direct radiation of heat from the iluidized bed by a central heat resistant shield 118 mounted on the gas'outlet and two additional shields 19 mounted separately on the two electrodes respectively, said shields being outv of contact with each other and other elements of theapparatus.V YCooling by natural air convection is sullcient to cool the part of the reactor above the radiation shields.

In FIGURE 4, a large scale cylindrical ilud bed reactor apparatus is illustrated, partly in section.V It comand cover 21 Yenclosing aheat details vof the improvements acts as oneV electrode of the apparatus, and receives current through the lead-inelectrode 27. The top entering electrode 28 passes through a hole in the heat Vshielding baille 29 which covers the top of the iluid bed chamber. The baille 2,9 absorbs all the heat radiating up from the iluidized bed except that passing through the annular ,space betweenthe electrode 28 and baille 29. The heat passing through` this gap ,strikesV the head 30 of the electrode; this head can be cooled by circulating coolant llowing in andk out at 311 and 32. of electrical insulation is the insulating ring 33, which is protected from radiant heat of the fluidized bed by the baille Z9 and cooled electrode head 30. Thus the electrode 28 and electrode 4 Vshows another electricallyY heated uidizedl bed in verticalcross section, both FIG@ headV 30, at one potential, are insulated from` thevrest of the apparatus at other potentials by insulation 33,

which insulation is gas-tight -and completelyVA shielded e from radiant heat from the iluidized bed.V

portant in theutilization of thisV invention. The surin contact with, `or, exposed to direct radiation from, thehot Illuidized bed will, unless effectively cooled, achievetemperatures substantially as high as thatV of the tluidized bed itself. Thus all parts )f the apparatus so exposed must have effective high :emperature resistance or must be effectively cooled. e To :onserve heat in the lluidized bed, it is obvious to use h ermally insulating materials Wherever possible to reluce heat losses -from refractory materials to the, sur- 'ounding medium. naterial for use in righ Valumina brick, he vertical walls surrounding a hot lluidized bed. Nuterous types of high alumina castable refractory,.e.g'. Alundum, are suitable materials for parts which must e exposed to the direct heat of a lluidized bed and rhich must `be. cast; for example the heat shielding cover 9 in FIGURE 2 can be cast in one or more pieces from ich refractory material Silicon carbide is also an rcellent refractory Ymaterial whichV can vbe used alone or t conjunction with cast refractory parts as a particularly fective refractory facing.

conjunction with .this invention is rAn excellent refractory constructionV which can Vreadily be utilized for' e cross-sectional area v 2. In an apparatus for obtaining high temperatures in' Because the parts of the apparatus which electrically Yexpedient to provide means Y 50v` Materials of construction are obviously highly 1m- Y consist of (l)V gas-,tight insulate the electrodes fromuone anotherare shielded need not have the high temperature resisting properties required of the exposed parts. vThis is effectively illustrated in the small scale apparatus depicted in FIGURE l; units such asthis have beensuccessfully operated for many hours in thestudy of various chemical-reactions in iluidized beds at high temperatures, e.g. over 10009 C. without destructive damage to the ordinary laboratory rubber Stoppers acting as the inches-awayV from the hot iluidized beds.

apparatus,V such as illustrated in FIGURE y trically'insulating parts made of Transito asbestos Yboard have been found tobe inA perfect insulating condition afterweeks of service in high apparatus when shielded according to this invention, whereas Yuns'hielded Transite VasbestosV board Vpartshave 4In larger'- scale direct radiant heat` from the lluidized beds. ,n

The electrodes used in contact with hot lluidized beds are preferably made of graphiteV or other suitable con-` ductive formrof carbon. Such carbonl electrodes com-Y bine adequate electrical conductivity with effective heat resistance not possessed by theV metal alloy electrodes suggested for such applications in the prior art. ToV permit cooling ofV the `parts of the electrode Vin direct contact with the critical electrical insulation, it is for circulating cooling Viluid around or` lthrough such parts. FIGURE 4,` a carbon electrode metal electrode head 30and the circulatingtherethrough. -Y

vIt willfalsobel understood that additional inodiilcavtions to those already mentioned maybe made in the specific embodiments disclosed ,the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: 1.Ini an 28 can be tted `into Ya chamber, (belgas inlet. rneansfto admit and V'distribute thelchamberat the bottom thereof, (c) gas outletm'eans ntrodes at diierent potentials entering .the chambe'rfand terminating within the.

trodes to a source of power, the improvements which Velectricalinsulation around each electrode which enters theupper portion of the chamber, said insulationsurrounding its. associated-'electrode at the point of entry to the'heat-insulating'structure and vforming theonly connection, otherthan the lluidized bed, between the electrode'land theheat-insulating struc-V being'aQheat-insulating baille mounted near the top of the chamber, saidV baille having an aperture larger than of the chamberV except the aperture.

a iluidized bed of electrically conductive particles heated v electrical `insulation only Y 4, critical eleci.

temperature lluidized bed a Thus, Vas illustratedv in head cooled by coolant iWithout departing from` l .wholeginternal cross-section of lower portion of the chamber, at leastone of the said electrodes entering the upper'por- Y 'tion of theY chamber, and (e) means connectingthe, electhe said baille occupying the wholeit by the passage of electricity therethrough, comprising: (a) a reaction chamber enclosed by a heat insulating structure, to retain a bed of hot lluidized electrically conductive particles in the lower portion of the chamber, (b) gas inlet means to admit and distribute lluidizing gas over the whole internal cross-section of the chamber at the bottom thereof, (c) gas outlet means to conduct gases from the upper portion of the chamber to points outside the chamber, (d) at least two electrodes at different potentials entering the chamber and terminating within the lower portion of the chamber, at least one of the said electrodes entering the upper portion of the chamber, and (e) means connecting the electrodes to a source of power, the improvements which consist of (1) gastight electrical insulation around each electrode which enters the upper portion of the chamber, said insulation surrounding its associated electrode at the point of entry to the heat-insulating structure and forming the only connection, other than the luidized bed, between the electrode and the heat-insulating structure, each of said electrodes in contact with the electrical insulation being cooled by circulation of cooling iluid in contact therewith, and (2) radiant-'heat `shielding separated from the said insulation and positioned between the said insulation and the lluidized bed, said radiant-heat shielding being a heat-insulating baille mounted near the top of the chamber, said baille having an aperture larger than said electrode entering the upper portion of the chamber through which said electrode passes, the aperture being positioned in relation to the insulation and the cooled portion of the electrode so that the radiation from the lluidized bed which passes through lthe aperture -alls only on the cooled portion of the electrode and not on the insulation, the said baille occupying the whole cross-sectional area of the chamber except the aperture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,274,798 Shoeld Aug. 6, 1918 1,352,086 Rose Sept. 7, 1920 1,853,688 Leler Apr. 12, 1932 1,857,799 Winkler May 10, 1932 2,799,640 Pevere July 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,011 Great Britain Mar. 3 1954 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN A FLUIDIZED BED OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PARTICLES HEATED BY THE PASSAGE OF ELECTRICITY THERETHROUGH, COMPRISING: (A) A REACTION CHAMBER ENCLOSED BY A HEAT INSULATING STRUCTURE, TO RETAIN A BED OF HOT FLUIDIZED ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PARTICLES IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, (B) GAS INLET MEANS TO ADMIT AND DISTRIBUTE FLUIDIZING GAS OVER THE WHOLE INTERNAL CROSS-SECTION OF THE CHAMBER AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, (C) GAS OUTLET MEANS TO CONDUCT GASES FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER TO POINTS OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER, (D) AT LEAST TWO ELECTRODES AT DIFFERENT POTENTIALS ENTERING THE CHAMBER AND TERMINATING WITHIN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, AT LEAST ONE OF THE SAID ELECTRODES ENTERING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, AND (E) MEANS CONNECTING THE ELECTRODES TO A SOURCE OF POWER, THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH CONSIST OF (1) GAS-TIGHT ELECTRICAL INSULATION AROUND EACH ELECTRODE WHICH ENTERS THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, SAID INSULATION SURROUNDING ITS ASSOCIATED ELECTRODE AT THE POINT OF ENTRY TO THE HEAT-INSULATING STRUCTURE AND FORMING THE ONLY CONNECTION, OTHER THAN THE FLUIDIZED BED, BETWEEN THE ELECTRODE AND THE HEAT-INSULATING STRUCTURE, AND (2) RADIANT-HEAT SHIELDING SEPARATED FROM THE SAID INSULATION AND POSITIONED BETWEEN THE SAID INSULATION AND THE FLUIDIZED BED, SAID RADIANT-HEAT SHIELDING BEING A HEAT-INSULATING BAFFLE MOUNTED NEAR THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER, SAID BAFFLE HAVING AN APERTURE LARGER THAN SAID ELECTRODE ENTERING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH SAID ELECTRODE PASSES, THE APERTURE BEING POSITIONED IN RELATION TO THE INSULATION AND THE ELECTRODE SO THAT THE RADIATION FROM THE FLUIDIZED BED WHICH PASSES THROUGH THE APERTURE FALLS ONLY ON THE ELECTRODE AND NOT ON THE INSULATION, THE SAID BAFFLE OCCUPYING THE WHOLE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE CHAMBER EXCEPT THE APERTURE. 